Max Grossman
2005 Induction
Max was selected in 2000 as the best all around softball competitor in Irondequoit’s 60 Plus League. Max was all of 73 at the time. He played the infield. Max is still playing but this year moved to the outfield because, Max says, “You don’t have to run as fast. But you do have to play three times a week.” That’s a lot for a player his age but Max told our program, “I’m enjoying it very much. I may be the oldest active Jewish softball player!”
Max, however, has a new assignment that will keep him involved with softball for some time as the new Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and is acknowledged as the “driving force behind the growth and stability of the program.” There are also seven other commissioners who help the program going and is sponsored by Irodequoit’s Department of Parks and Recreation.
Grossman was born in Wellsville where the family opened a furniture store there. Max, however, was sent back to Rochester to study for his Bar Mitzvah and attend Franklin High. But towards the end of his junior year, he returned to Wellsville and made a name for himself as a star athlete. Max earned nine letters in basketball, baseball, and in track and field.
He was also named All Alleghany County Baseball player and Man of the Year as the Outstanding Athlete of 1945. He also won accolades as that year’s All County all star baseball player. After being drafted into the armed forces, Max played football, basketball, track, baseball and softball. In Germany he ran the 100, 200, quarter mile, half mile, and relay events and played football in the Merchant Marine.
After returning to Rochester, Grossman played on the Westfall VFW softball championship team in 1948 and played on the JY all Star team in 1950. In the 24 year period from 1980-2004, Max played softball, was a team captain, manager, sponsor and commissioner. Then in 1999 his team won the Monroe County Senior Olympics and the following year was designated the best all around player in the 60 Plus Senior League.
Among his other achievements were a home softball series with a team in Ottawa, Canada and an annual fund raising campaign to help Strong’s Children’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, New York City police and fireman, and the Gilda Radner Club in New York City that fights cancer.
As Softball Board Chairman, he is anxiously awaiting the new artificial turf and other improvements at McAvoy field in Irondequoit. Max carved out a career as a real estate broker in Rochester and formed First Monroe Inc. that did commercial financing. He also worked for a ten year period for the state in the Southern Tier in urban development work. Max attended both Rochester Business Institute and Bryant Stratton.